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Interested in completing the highest academic qualification in business administration? Discover 10 ways in which a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) degree could benefit your business and career
A business owner with a DBA degree enjoys advantages for their career and business as a result of advanced education. An MBA degree is an asset to business owners, but a DBA degree shows customers, stakeholders and clients that you have invested the time and effort to complete the highest academic qualification in business administration.
In this article, we answer the ‘what is a DBA?’ question and discover the benefits of having a doctorate in business administration and how it can help you grow your business.
1. Convert business theory into practice
Although MBA degrees are excellent avenues to master business fundamentals, a DBA degree takes learning to the next level by assigning a practical, real-world research project. Students build on prior experience and sharpen their knowledge in an area of choice by converting business theory into practice.
2. Connect with an experienced mentor
According to a 2020 article in Forbes, entrepreneurs with mentors are more satisfied in their jobs, report greater business growth and are more likely to become top performers in their industry. SCORE found that 30% of entrepreneurs who had an experience with a business mentor reported business growth.
Students enrolled in a DBA degree get matched with a designated research partner and develop a mentor-mentee relationship to excel in their industry. A recent study found that 33% of founders who are mentored by successful entrepreneurs go on to become top performers themselves. Enrolling in a DBA programme is an entryway to a network of international researchers and lifelong mentors.
3. Grow your business while completing your degree
Pursuing a DBA degree shouldn’t slow down your business development. Aston University’s executive DBA degree, for example, couples distance learning with world-class supervision to ensure you receive a comprehensive learning experience. The DBA degree structure is also designed for professionals working full time. Business owners can continue to dedicate time to their organisation, while simultaneously acquiring an advanced DBA degree.
4. Choose a relevant research project
When you apply for an executive DBA degree, you must submit a research proposal to demonstrate your topic of interest and how you plan on exploring it. At Aston University, professionals select topics related to their industry and often use their findings to grow their business and career.
As a thought leader and CEO coach, no one recognises the value of an education like John Blakey, known for his book, The Trusted Executive. Blakey is highly sought after as a keynote speaker and best-selling author on the topic of trust in leadership. He embarked on a research project at Aston and his dedicated research and hard work later became the published book, The Trusted Executive about transforming the performance of organisations, delivering better results and growing relationships through the power of trust. Blakey demonstrates that the research from a DBA degree can be transferred to serve your career long term.
5. Leverage data for business insights
Companies that make evidence-informed decisions based on data see measurable success. Business.com has predicted that data analytics will be a key differentiator for small businesses in the contemporary business world. Business owners with a DBA degree can use their newfound data analytics skills to research customer behaviour, track insights and create data-informed business plans that drive results.
6. Lead with confidence
Isabella Moore is an experienced entrepreneur and researcher based in the UK. She was the first female President of the British Chambers of Commerce and Vice President of Eurochambres, the association of European Chambers of Commerce. Moore embarked on a research project in her DBA at Aston University and decided to dive deeper into the obstacles and restrictions women face in the workplace.
Moore used her experience in the business landscape and her research to advocate for women, educating others in an effort to increase opportunities for women in business. Moore’s DBA degree research project is an example of how great leaders never stop learning.
7. Make strategic decisions
Researchers are strategic thinkers that transform raw data into actionable insights. Many professionals completing a DBA degree specialise in business strategy to learn how to make better business decisions. Researchers completing their DBA degree in this area discover the most successful strategic decision-making processes based on extensive research and apply these findings to real-world settings. The final result is a smarter executive with the tools needed to grow their business.
8. Establish international influence
According to the UK government, the UK recently climbed to eighth place on the World Bank’s ‘ease of doing business’ list. The UK’s Secretary of State for International Trade at the time commented on this and said: ‘This is why Britain continues to be the number one destination for attracting foreign direct investment in Europe, and third globally after the USA and China.’
Enrolling in a DBA degree programme opens doors to building international connections in one of the world’s most lucrative business markets, and Aston’s executive DBA programme has been ranked by CEO Magazine as one of the best in the world.
9. Apply ethical business practices
Business owners can learn the foundations of business ethics in a DBA degree programme and use their findings to develop ethical companies that positively impact the world.
Geetha Ravishankar, Executive DBA Director at Aston University, and Rakesh Bissoondeeal, former Programme DBA Director at Aston University, recognise Aston’s impact on the small business community: ‘The Goldman Sachs 10,000 small business programme at Aston Business School is designed to boost local economic growth and job creation through providing a combination of targeted, high-quality, practical business education and support services to small businesses and social enterprises.’
10. Become a thought leader
Completing an intensive research assignment through a DBA degree is an opportunity to become an expert in your field. For example, after completing his DBA degree at Aston University, the aforementioned John Blakey is now considered to be a thought leader in the realm of leadership and trust. Blakey worked closely with his designated supervisor and mentor, Ann Davis, to translate his learnings into a published book. ‘He is now identified as a world-renowned expert in trust as a result of the first study that he did for his DBA,’ Davis says.
Benefits of earning a DBA degree from Aston University
Aston University is a recognised as a leading DBA provider and the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) awarded Aston University recognition as GOLD due to faculty support and personalised learning experience. Explore the DBA degree from Aston University.
This article is sponsored by Aston University.
